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About the riders

Gareth Morgan

Gareth Morgan

Age: 60

Nickname: Welsh Speedster

Bike: BMW R 1200GS, F800GS, F650GS Dakar

Job: Investment Manager

Gareth is a bit of a veteran now of these offshore bike trips and remains in a hurry to cover the world before his body says it won’t. Wellington-based but nationally focused, Gareth’s other interests these days since he exited Infometrics and his portfolio business, include social investment around the developing world, conservation issues in NZ, public education of areas of national policy interest, and of course his recent indulgence in The Phoenix and helping to get NZ football further up the FIFA ladder. And his passion for fishing in the Cook Strait somewhere hasn’t waned.

Jo Morgan

Age: MYOB

Nickname: Witch Doctor

Bike: Ducati 999, BMW F650GS, BMW F800GS

Job: Driver

Of the worldbybike riders Jo owns the fastest bike back in NZ, and has been on bikes before she was legal. But her penchant for two wheel vehicles tells less than half of the love affair with engines. Buses and trucks play a big part in Jo’s driving life back in Wellington too. Also a veteran of offshore bike riding Jo is medical officer on this trip or, as the rest of us fear, the “witch doctor”.Jo’s other activities include playing with her grand-children, hanging out of trees with her chainsaw, vacuuming (meditation), mountain climbing and tinkering with her newly restored 1948 PC Bedford ute. Her summer aim is to climb all the 3000m peaks in NZ.

Dave Wallace

Age: 64

Nickname: The Bodyguard

Bike: BMW R1150GS

Job: Farmer

A very demur sort Dave, until there’s anyone around and then his larger-than-life persona takes hold and he quickly inspires everyone to do things their mother wouldn’t condone. Entrepreneurial in nature with a strong advantage on matters mechanical, Dave is a very handy man to have on tour. His motorcycling sorties have covered all of NZ, most of the Australian hinterland as well as virtually all of the worldbybike trips completed so far.From a farming background, Dave’s still to decide which form of farming he likes best or which country to farm in. Dry stock, dairy, kiwifruit and even orchid growing have all captured his attention. Farming in many parts of NZ as well as in Victoria is his excuse for maintaining a fleet of bikes on both sides of the Tasman. Dave has a busy schedule and is forever torn between his two recreational passions – motorcycle touring and game fishing.

Brendan Keogh

Brendan Keogh

Age: 60

Nickname: The Salesman

Bike: N/A

Job: Principal and owner of Motorad Limited

Principal and owner of Motorad Limited, the BMW motorcycle dealer in Wellington, Brendan’s motorcycling pedigree is strong. He’s competed in national cross country and enduro championships since the 1970’s at expert level with significant success. He still loves the cut and thrust of competing in super vet class and was first in this class in the Hawkes Bay six hour cross country last year.In 1980 Brendan hit the UK. Finding employment in the Scottish Highlands he met wife-to-be Caroline and they started their own knitwear manufacturing business which they developed from 1984 through to 1996. During this period Brendan discovered mountain biking – his other weakness. He continues to do adventure riding and nowadays is accompanied by daughter Patricia on her own motorcycle.From the Highlands the adventures have kept coming – Spain, Morocco, and the Himalayas.

Tony Armstrong

Tony Armstrong

Age: 51

Nickname: Armpit

Bike: GS800, KTM450EXC, Ducati 696

Job: Chairman & director of the PSC Group of Companies

More accustomed to off road adventure riding and boating in the Cook Strait Tony joins the worldbybike team for his third tour of duty previously completing “Under African Skies” and “Northern Lights”Tony is the Chairman and Director of the Power Systems Consultants group of companies. (www.pscconsulting.com) He spent the initial 20 years of his career working for the NZ SOE’s on major Power Projects within New Zealand. In 1995 Tony and his business partner, Dr Ranil DeSilva formed Power System Consultants NZ Ltd. Tony has grown the organisation into a group of PSC companies producing a global presence in NZ, Australia, Singapore, Sweden and USA.Tony is married (Robyn) with two children (Nadine & Kane) aged 23 & 21 years. Robyn will join the early stages of “Up the Andes” before returning home to support the PSC operation.

When asked about the highlights of the upcoming trip Tony replied “I can’t wait to rip into those Argentinean steaks and Chilean red wines”

Chris Stephens

Chris Stephens

Age: 57

Nickname: Toyboy

Bike: KTM990, KTM450EXC, BMW800GS

Job: Managing Director, Antics Marketing Ltd

Known in motorcycling circles for photo journalism and the occasional “endo”, his off road adventures include New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam and Mongolia. Chris brings can-do skills on tour and certainly helps to lower the average height of the group. Chris first joined the World by Bike team in Moscow for the Northern Lights TourHis riding passion is shared by his 3 adult “kids” (Tim, Sam, Jenny) and supported by his wife Teresa. His not-so healthy obsession with classic bike restoration is endured by the same.Chris and Teresa run their own company, Antics, a product developer, importer and distributor specializing in the Toy industry since 1988. www.antics.co.nz

Read our latest blog

Our latest motorcycle trip takes us from Russian through the DMZ in Korea and Back to NZ The long Drop